Library campaigners hit out at council

29 September 2009

THRIFY cultural chiefs could suffer an electoral backlash after pulling the axe on three village libraries, according to campaigners.

Protesters have laid into North Somerset Council members after they agreed to close facilities in Banwell, Congresbury and Backwell last week.

The move, which is likely to see the introduction of a replacement mobile library service, is hoped to help shore up the council's finances.

But in Congresbury, parish council chairman Pete Sewell has vowed to continue the fight to save the 900-member building.

In Banwell, the youth council, after completing a two-mile walk protest to Winscombe, is to meet with Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Weston, Mike Bell, to discuss a next step.

Campaigner Heidi Griffin, of Coronation Road in Banwell, said: "The council is tearing villages like Banwell apart by closing the libraries.

"We need more meeting areas, more learning resources for children and more amenities. Not less.

"But our protests have gone on deaf ears and we have had little response. These councillors won't be getting my vote at the next election."

Congresbury parish council leader Mr Sewell said: "We will be making sure that North Somerset Council knows we want the library to be saved.

"Scrutiny panel meetings will be attended and we will ensure that our message will be heard at every opportunity."

The outcry was backed by trade union Unison this week, which claimed the closures were because of low council tax rises.

The group said the authority should have put services before politics when issuing the 2.5 per cent council tax rise earlier this year.

Unison North Somerset branch secretary Helen Thornton said: "It is our view that the people of North Somerset will be paying for the unrealistically low council tax rises over the last two years with reduced quality services.

"The citizens of North Somerset have to realise that if they want good public services they have to pay for them."

As well as cut-backs to the library service, the council is also considering savings to Weston's North Somerset Museum.

The reviews come as the council attempts to plug an £18million funding gap within two years and a review of all authority services.

North Somerset Council chief executive officer Graham Turner said: "The council wishes to replace the buildings with better use by the library service of multi-use buildings such as children's centres, schools, leisure centres or any other suitable building.

"In summary, it is important to distinguish between the closure of the library building, which is proposed, and the closure of the library service, which is not proposed.